Sunday marks 60 years of Super Bowls, and marks 11 years since the Seahawks and Patriots faced off in Super Bowl 49. That classic game produced one of the greatest defensive plays in history – Malcolm Butler’s game-saving interception of Russell Wilson.
To honor both, we asked eight of our football writers — from the New York Post and the newly launched California Post — to rank the 10 best plays in Super Bowl history. Each voter also submitted an explanation for his vote.
Individual votes and cumulative results are here. We’ll see which Sunday night shows make a bid to join the list in the coming years.
Overall results
1. Capturing David Tyree’s hat (77 points)
2. Malcolm Butler’s game-saving strike (70)
3. Sanntonio Holmes’ toe touch (51)
4. Mike Jones’ last play to Kevin Dyson at the 1-yard line (43)
5. James Harrison’s 100-yard pick six (31)
6t. Philly Special: Nick Foles catches a TD pass (24)
6t. Julian Edelman’s juggling catch (24)
8. Joe Montana TD pass to John Taylor (17)
9. John Elway’s helicopter (16)
10. Marcus Allen’s reverse-field 74-yard TD run (14)
And you get votes: Lynn Swann’s catch over Mark Washington (10) … Adam Vinatieri’s game-winning FG (10) … Mike Bass’ blocked FG/INT by Garo Yepremian (9) … John Riggins’ run to glory (8) … Joe Namth’s confirmation (7) … Eli Manning’s pass to Mario Manningham (6) … vs. Peyton Manning to seal Saints title (5) … Patrick Mahomes’ bomb on Tyreek Hill (4) … Lynn Swann’s catch over Mel Renfro (4) … Mark Ingram’s first catch-and-run breakup (3) … Saints open second half with onside kick (1)
Vinny Bonsignor
1. Tyree’s helmet
2. Allen reverses the field
3. Butler’s game-saving INT
4. Namath’s guarantee
5. Norwood wide right
6. Holmes’ toe tapping TD
7. Elway’s helicopter hovers
8. Bass’ blocked FG/INT
9. Philly Special
10. Jones participated in 1
Eli Manning to Tyree is a moving poem. Allen weaving gracefully from one side of the field to the other is impressive. Broadway Joe’s confirmation was a defining moment. Scott Norwood’s missed FG is proof that nothing is certain. I saw Butler step in firsthand. I still can’t believe it. At that stage of Elway’s career, it’s a game of heroes. Yepremian is always funny. The Catching of Holmes is a gripping game as you will see. The Eagles running a trick play with Foles remains a memorable call. Can the Greatest Show on the Turf win the Super Bowl without facing Jones?
Mark Cannizzaro
1. Butler’s game-saving INT
2. Jones participated in 1
3. Holmes’ toe tapping TD
4. Tyree’s helmet
5. Montana to Taylor
6. Edelman’s juggling act
7. Manning to Manningham
8. Vinatieri’s SB-winning FG
9. Porter’s six selections of P. Manning
10. Riggins’ run to glory
As you can see here, I’m going over moments that may have been decisive games to win games or recent historic games that shaped the outcome. A Butler pick, a Jones tackle and a Holmes catch all provided the final drama on the last play of the game in the final period.
Brian Costello
1. Tyree’s helmet
2. Butler’s game-saving INT
3. Holmes’ toe tapping TD
4. Harrison’s 100-yard pick six
5. Philly Special
6. Jones participated in 1
7. Swann over Renfro
8. Allen reverses the field
9. Riggins’ run to glory
10. Montana to Taylor
The David Tyree catch is the most improbable, most improbable game in the world and that’s why it gets the top spot for me. It’s hard to rate anything before game-winning plays like Malcolm Butler’s pick and Santonio Holmes’ spectacular catch, but I’ve never seen anything like Tyree’s catch.
Michael Duarte
1. Tyree’s helmet
2. Butler’s game-saving INT
3. Holmes’ toe tapping TD
4. Edelman’s juggling act
5. Jones participated in 1
6. Elway’s helicopter hovers
7. Vinatieri’s SB-winning FG
8. Philly Special
9. Montana to Taylor
10. Kicking the side of the saints
As I get older, I’m starting to realize that my favorite Super Bowl moments aren’t always the best or the best, they’re the ones that stay with me. The Tyree helmet is a good example. Not only was it an “OMG” moment, but it came when everything was on the line. The game-winning drive to cap the Patriots’ quest for perfection. No one, including me, thought the Giants would win that game. Malcolm Butler’s entry into the end zone is in there too because it sounds like the football gods changed their minds mid-sentence. Finally, as a kid growing up I focused on Joe Montana, Jerry Rice and the 49ers. The “Drive,” and the TD catch by Taylor reminds me of my childhood. Another list occupies that same space: good memories, inch game, courage, chaos, and unwavering faith.
Ryan Dunleavy
1. Tyree’s helmet
2. Jones participated in 1
3. Butler’s game-saving INT
4. Holmes’ toe tapping TD
5. Harrison’s 100-yard pick six
6. Philly Special
7. Edelman’s juggling act
8. Vinatieri’s SB-winning FG
9. Riggins’ run to glory
10. Swann over Washington
Time is of the essence, so my first four all came in the last 75 seconds of one-touchdown games. “Helmet Catch” wins because it was a great play on both ends by Eli Manning and David Tyree. The rest of the list is a mix of intelligence, sheer determination, acrobatics and clutch. Just missing the cut were the Saints’ sideline sack at halftime in Super Bowl 44 and Max McGee’s one-handed catch (before that was cool) in Super Bowl I.
Paul Schwartz
1. Tyree’s helmet
2. Butler’s game-saving INT
3. Holmes’ toe tapping TD
4. Elway’s helicopter hovers
5. Jones participated in 1
6. Harrison’s 100-yard pick six
7. Edelman’s juggling act
8. John Riggins’ run for glory
9. Philly Special
10. Montana to Taylor
There are some great and accurate plays in Super Bowl history but David Tyree’s helmet is the most improbable and tangible. And the catch wasn’t the most impressive thing in the game. Eli Manning’s pressure runs and near-sacks are legendary — along with endless catches from his teammates.
Steve Serby
1. Tyree’s helmet
2. Butler’s game-saving INT
3. Harrison’s 100-yard pick six
4. Holmes’ toe tapping TD
5. Philly Special
6. Jones participated in 1
7. Edelman’s juggling act
8. Porter’s six selections of P. Manning
9. Allen reverses the field
10. Manning to Manningham
I can’t fathom any play more deserving of being No. 1 than David Tyree’s miraculous catches aided by his helmet and Rodney Harrison pulling over him on the Giants’ winning TD drive in Super Bowl 42 against the Perfect Patriots. Eli Manning’s Great Escape from what appeared to be a sack helped him hoist his 32-yard bomb. The Philly Special was bold and unique and propelled the Eagles — and Philly — to their first Super Bowl appearance. Super Bowl 43 was one of the most entertaining and that’s why it doubles in the Top 5.
Mike Vaccaro
1. Tyree’s helmet
2. Swann over Washington
3. Butler’s game-saving INT
4. Montana to Taylor
5. Bass’ blocked FG/INT
6. Harrison’s 100-yard pick six
7. Mahomes to Hill bomb
8. Ingram letters
9. Jones participated in 1
10. Manning to Manningham
It took a ridiculous helmet grab that is the biggest reason for the biggest upset to replace Swann, the most watched game the Super Bowl has ever seen. Hard to leave out: Jermaine Kearse grabbed the rope just before Butler’s play; Otis Taylor TD in Super Bowl 4; Phil Simms-to-Mark Bavaro-to-Phil McConkey.
